New Agatha Christie film adaptation
“A Haunting in Venice” is based on this novel
Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in the darkest Agatha Christie film adaptation to date, “A Haunting in Venice.”
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“A Haunting in Venice” is Kenneth Branagh’s third case as Hercule Poirot. There are some changes compared to the original novel.
“A Haunting in Venice” is the third Agatha Christie film adaptation by and starring Kenneth Branagh (62), after “Murder on the Orient Express” (2017) and “Death on the Nile” (2022). While the first two works should mean something even to a die-hard crime buff, things are different with the new film, which will be released in cinemas on September 14th. This could have something to do with the title and the associated location of the action – because Master Detective ended up in Venice Not Hercule Poirot in the novel.
It’s all about this
The film’s content says: “The case for master detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) takes place in dark, eerie post-war Venice on the evening before All Saints’ Day. Poirot, now retired, lives in self-imposed exile in the most glamorous city in the world. On the evening in question “He only reluctantly takes part in a séance in a dilapidated palazzo that is said to be haunted. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective finds himself in a mysterious world full of shadows and secrets.”
Differences and similarities to the book
In 1969, Christie’s 60th crime novel (and Hercule Poirot’s 31st case) was published in Great Britain under the title Halloween Party. It took two more years before the book as “The Snow White Party” found its way into German bookstores – and it has only been around five years since the new edition in this country has been titled “The Halloween Party”.
The timing of the action is therefore the same: on Halloween evening (October 31st), i.e. the day before All Saints’ Day, there is a murder in the film, albeit under significantly different circumstances. Meanwhile, the original has absolutely nothing to do with Venice – the story takes place there in the sleepy English (and fictional) village of Woodleigh Common. In addition, Poirot did not go into exile voluntarily in the book; instead, he makes his way to the crime scene at the request of the crime writer Ariadne Oliver, who happened to be there.
Speaking of Ariadne Oliver: The popular character from numerous Christie novels celebrates her premiere in the Branagh new editions in “A Haunting in Venice”. She is played by the American comedian and actor Tina Fey (53). In general, Branagh was once again able to recruit an illustrious cast for his film. Kelly Reilly (46), Jamie Dornan (41) and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (61) are also part of the ensemble. The latter star is given a special role: The 61-year-old embodies the character Joyce Reynolds – in the book a 13-year-old girl…